Combustion-pressure apparatus



June 15 1926.

R. HART COMBUSTION PRESSURE APPARATUS Filed Nov. 24, 1924 Inventor; ZusseZZ Ear@ controlling Patented June 15, i926.

UNITED STATES RUSSELL IIEIIAI'LT,l OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

COMBUSTION-PBESSRE APPARATUS.

Application med November 24, .1924. sei-iai No. asians.

-My invention relates to combustion pressure apparatus for power purposes. Among its more important objects are; first, to provide means for continuously maintaining a 5 relatively high gaseous pressure by burning fuel," and confining the products of combustion; second, to furnish automatic means for the developed pressure and keep- ,ing it constant within relatively close limits; third, to supply convenient means for starting and for operating apparatus of this na\ ture; and, fourth, lto make the use of such apparatus safe.

My objects are attained in the manner i l illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of my vcomplete invention in elevation, certain parts being shown in section for convenience yof illustration; Figure 2 is an end elevation of the retort, and the fuel burner with its connections;

Figure 3 is an enlarged axial section, 1n elevation, of 'anapprovedtype of regulator I employ in connection with the air supply to the burnerof my apparatus; and

Figure 4 is'an enlarged axial section, in elevation, of a type of automaticcylinder means I use for maintaining a relatively constant pressure in the combustion chamber.

' Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The gaseous pressure *is developed in a combustion chamber 5 comprising a strong cylindrical shell 6 which preferably has easily removableV dished heads 7 and 8. The

shell and heads are lied throughout with refractory material 9, capable of withstanding a high temperature.' l y At the top of the combustion chamber a 'safety lvalve 110 is provided. It' is important to have this of such size as to insure that pressure within the combustion chamber cannot build up faster than the valve is capable of relieving it. The stem of this valve is connected to a hand lever 11 in such may belifted from its catch 12 and dog 13. Adjustment of the valve spring 14 may bemade in any conlvenient way, as by the screw bushing 15 and lock nut 16.' This safety valve is set for the iipper limit of pressure desired in the combustion chamber.` At the top of the combustion chamber there is also a small hand valve 17 which may be gradually closed. This is ner to be explained bel handle 27 when the f where pipe lines 25 used when starting the apparatus, in a man- Head 7 of'the combustion chamber is adapted to connect the latter, vthrough throttle valve 19, to pipe line 2O leading to a suitable prime mover or other device adapted for making use of gaseous pressure.

Head 8 is at the combustion end of the chamber and is provided with an axially removable :tuel burner 21. The type of burner illustrated is provided with a notched fiange 22 so that swing-bolts 23, hinged to the head, may be employed for-holding the burner in place. An asbestos gasket 24 is used to pack this frequently broken joint.

The burner 'is connected to and air pipe 26, by swing joints, so that it may be pulled strai ht back by means of ange joint at the head 1s broken A convenient arrangement for this purpose is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, and 26 are of the saine length between their terminal centers, and are connected by elbows and nipples in such a way that they caii swing a few degrees in the threads of their end connections. This arrangement also serves to support the'burner when it is pulled back from the head.

pressure pipe 28 is tapped into the bottom of the combustion chamber, and is intermediately water-cooled by the jacket 29. This pipe is branched and connects with the fuel fioat-valve chamber 30, combustion. pressure regulating cylinder 31, and airpressure regulator 32. v

When liquid fuel is to be usedfor operating my apparatus, the fuel is stored ordinarily at a low level, as in fuel tank 33. In such cases I use the pressure of an inert gas for elevating the fuel. In the drawing a compressed nitrogen tank is shown at 34 and this is connected to the fuel storage tank through asuitable reducing valve 35 and pipe line 36. The pressure of the nitrogen, applied in this manner, forces the fuel u ward through pipe 87 inte fioat chamber 30, as permitted by the Heat 38. The latter maintains a substantially constant' fuel-level in the ioat chamber.

From the ioat chamber the fuel is drawn into the burner through` pipe' 25 by the in- .spirating action of the' air jet in the burner.

Compressed air for combustion is supplied by a compressor or otherconvenient source through edV to this line to equalize the flow, and to pipe 39. A reservoir 40 is conneet- Y burner is provide a temporary air supply in case of need. Pipe line 41 connects the air source and reservoir to regulator 32 which reduces its pressure to a pre-determined amount in excess of the pressure in combustion chamber 5. That is to say, the pressure of the air, after passing through regulator 32, 1s variable but always is a pre-determined amount in excess of the pressure' in the combustion chamber. After going through the regulator the air flows through pipe lines 42 and 26 to the burner, being variably vthrottled in passage by the valve 43 operated by cylinder 31.

The method of operation of regulator 32 will become apparent from a consideration of Fig. 3. It will be seen that admission of air to the regulator through pipe 41 is controlled by diaphragm 44, and that the pressure of the outgoing air upon thetdiaphragin is balanced against the combined, pressure of the combustion chamber, admitted through pipe 28, and that of spring 45. The pressure of the spring is adjustable by means of screw 46. In this way the pressure of the outgoing air from the regulator varies with the pressure in the combustion chamber, but is always a pre-determined amount in excess of the latter corresponding to the additional pressure exerted b spring 45.

Air throttle va ve 43 is operated by the piston stem 47 of cylinder 31, by means of the connecting rod 48. The latter slidingly vengages head 49 of the valve, and is adapted to turn it for opening or closing the valve. Piston 50 within cylinder 31 is opposed by a spring 51, and the pressure of the combustion chamber is admitted to the cylinder, above the piston, through pipe 28. In this manner, as the combustion pressure increases, piston 50 is forced downward and partly closes valve 43. This reduces the flow of air to the burner, and the ow of fuel also because of the lessened inspirating action, and thereby reduces the rate at which combustion pressure is developed in the combustion chamber.

In starting my' apparatus the first step is to open hand valve 17 and safety valve 10, the latter being held open by means of catch 12 and dog 13. Throttle valve 19 is assumed to be closed. The burner flange joint is then broken and the burner drawn back clear of the combustion chamber head. Assuming that inert gas pressure for the fuel, and compressed air for the burner are available, valves 52 and 53 are adjusted andthe lighted. After becoming thor oughly warmed and burning properly, the burner is pushed back into the combust-ion chamber and continues to burn therein. The burner flange joint is then made tight by means of bolts 23, and the safety valve is released and allowed to seat. Finally hand valve 17 is graduauy closed. The ombustion of the fuel will then liberate gases that will quickly build up pressure in the combustion chamber. If the. gases are not drawn off for use through throttle valve 19 the safety valve will have to blow unless the pressure is relieved by valve 17.

When power gases are being chamber through slightly opening is being developed and the drawn from the combustion throttle valve 19, a drop of pressure within the combustion chamber will result in reduced pressure upon the upper side of piston 50. The piston will then move upward because of the unbalanced pressure of spring 51, and will cause valve 43 to open more. This will allow more air, and as a consequence more fuel, to flow into burner 21 and the rate of combustion, and the rate at which combustion pressure is developed, will thereby be increased.

It will be obvious from the foregoing description that my combustion pressure apparatus is well adapted for continuous operation, and that it can be made very nearly automatic for maintaining a reasonably constant pressure in the combustion chamber. It will be seen also that the apparatus is safe to start and operate, vand that there is no opportunity afforded for the accumulation of explosive mixtures in dangerous amounts, if handled in the manner described.

I claim as my invention:

1. Combustion pressure apparatus comprisng: a retort having a combustion chamber adapted to withstand internal pressure; a burner communicating with a fuel supply, directed into said chamber; a source of compressed air connected into the burner for making a combustible mixture with the fuel therein; and an automatic pressure regulator in said air connection intermediate the air source and the burner; said regulator being cont-rolled by the pressure in said chamber and adapted to maintain the air pressure at itsvdischarge outlet a substantially constant amount in excess of the pressure in said chamber.

2. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 in combination with a float valve adapted to maintain a liquid fuel supply at a substantially constant level in a closed float chamber communicating with the vcombustion chamber. f

3. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 in combination with independent means for regulating the flow of air to the burner so as to vary the flow in inverse relation to the pressure in the combustion chamber.

4. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 in combination with -means for withdrawing the burner from the combustion chamber for ignition, without breaking its air or fuel connections.

RUSSELL Haar.' 

